During our 109-day “Go West” adventure in the summer of 2021, I attended Wild Deadwood Reads in South Dakota, where I met a fellow author and her husband from Washington State. When they heard we would be traveling through their area, they suggested we visit—and recommended a scenic trip on the Snake River with Snakedancer Excursions. It sounded like the perfect adventure, so we added it to our itinerary.
Snakedancer Excursions operates out of Clarkston, Washington, at the gateway to Hells Canyon. We chose the half-day excursion that included lunch, and on July 21, 2021, climbed aboard our covered jet boat and headed upriver.
Many people don't realize that Hells Canyon is deeper than the Grand Canyon. Carved by the Snake River, Hells Canyon plunges nearly 8,000 feet from the peaks of the surrounding mountains to the river below, making it the deepest river gorge in North America. Experiencing it from the water gives you a unique perspective you simply can't get from the road.
As we traveled deeper into Hells Canyon, our captain pointed out the evidence of recent wildfires. The brown areas were exposed earth, the red patches were coated with flame retardant used to slow the spread of fire, and the blackened hillsides marked land that had already burned. We witnessed far more fire damage than I cared to photograph. One or two pictures tell the story well enough. In one place, you could clearly see how the flame retardant had protected a home from the advancing flames.
While watching for wildlife, I wondered how many animals had been displaced by the fires and whether they would eventually return. Water is essential for survival, so we hoped the river might draw them into view.
It did.
We spotted a graceful heron standing along the water’s edge. Farther upriver, where patches of vegetation still covered the hillsides, we saw pronghorn grazing. On our return trip, we were rewarded with the sight of several bighorn sheep climbing the rugged canyon walls.
One of the highlights of the excursion was stopping in the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area for lunch. A small grove of trees at the top of a hill provided welcome shade from the summer sun. Our meal included chilled fried chicken, beans, salad, and delicious homemade cookies. After lunch and a quick restroom break, we boarded the boat and continued our journey.
I had worn my swimsuit under my clothes, thinking there might be an opportunity to cool off in the river or that I might get soaked during the ride. Neither happened. We encountered only a light spray now and then, and because the boat was covered, a hat wasn’t necessary.
Before the excursion, I was a little nervous. I have a water phobia that surfaces if my head goes underwater, so the thought of traveling through rapids was intimidating. Thankfully these rapids were much gentler than I had imagined. They never felt frightening, and our experienced captain skillfully guided the boat through every turn.
By the time we returned to the dock, we were pleasantly exhausted and ready for a nap. The trip had taken us to places we never could have reached by truck, offering spectacular views of Hells Canyon and unforgettable encounters with wildlife. It's an easy first time in the rapids experience for people of any age who are able to climb the hill to where we ate lunch.
If you’re planning a trip to eastern Washington and would like to experience the Snake River for yourself, I highly recommend booking an excursion with Snakedancer Excursions. https://snakedancerexcursions.com/
These are just a few of the photos I captured during our adventure. To see more, visit my travel blog post here: https://beautifuldaytraveler.wordpress.com/2026/07/07/clarkston-washington-exploring-the-snake-river-with-snakedancer-excursions/
Debra enjoys writing military romantic suspense and making sure her veteran heroes have a happy ever after that will last.
She also writes western, contemporary, dystopian, fairytale, and holiday romance, urban fantasy, poetry, and nonfiction. In her Tales from the Trailer articles for Fresh Fiction, she shares the RV lifestyle and travel adventures in the U.S. from the point of view of a working author. As Debra Bishop, she writes children’s picture books.
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